How Overcoming These Obstacles Will Lead You To Greatness.

Unless you're born into a family that already possesses notoriety or fame or unworldly success, you must build credibility for yourself in order to be great.

When we are born, we are blank canvases.

Up until about 4 years old are we truly free. Once we get to our fifth year of life we start to get sculpted by societal forces. We start the systematic life of organized schooling. We follow this road until about 18 years old and then hopefully we are sent off to our undergraduate studies where we are to be primed to enter the real world. Some people go further to obtain their graduate studies, PhD and become life long students.

Once you enter the real world you need to carve your own way. Hopefully you were blessed with a nice network to help with your anticipated prosperity. Hopefully you don't regret the path of study you followed. Hopefully you're either able to pay off your insurmountable debt or hopefully you were left with a manageable one.

Too much of this path relies on hope.

Most of the time, when we want to do something creative, we're starting at square one.

It can feel overwhelming.

It's okay.

"Start before you're ready. Don't prepare. Begin." -Steven Pressfield

Being a creative, you need to create your own credibility. You need to channel out all of the noise around you and believe that what you're doing is worth it. Every bit of putting yourself and your work out there is an uphill battle.

The beginning will be filled with excitement and energy.

Then you'll second guess yourself.

Then you'll think you aren't making any progress.

Then you'll want to quit.

Every time you sit down and create work, know that you're one step closer. This is a marathon.

Fuck. This is an ironman.

Once you finish one leg of the creative race, you'll need to dust yourself off and start the next part of the race. Know that creative work is a long and strenuous process.

As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?" Edison replied, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."

When I consider who am I as a writer, what credibility do I have? What credibility does my site have?

Not a whole lot.

I do have an argument for a philosophy on creativity, improving the self, and wellness. I have evidence to support that philosophy that I've gathered through the books I've read, the people I've talked to and the experiences that have come my way.

That's really all I need.

Now comes the chipping away. The climbing one mountain, only to scale the next.

What's holding you back from starting?

What are you afraid of?

"Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Do not misunderstand me, Danger is real. But Fear is a choice. -Will Smith

No one can conquer your fears for you. If they make such a promise, they are a liar. You need to do it for yourself.

You can get help along the way. People can provide a blueprint. Mentors can tell you how they did it. Friends and family will be there for support.

Starting a project and continuing to work on it, even on the days you don't want to, is entirely up to you.

Before too long you'll start to create a voice. You'll begin to make traction. You'll look back and see how far you've come and how much more you need to go.